Loch Morar
Loch Morar | ||
---|---|---|
Primary inflows River Meoble | | |
Primary outflows | River Morar | |
Catchment area | 168 square kilometres (65 sq mi) | |
Basin countries | Scotland | |
Max. length | 18.8 km (11.7 mi) | |
Max. width | 2.35 km (1.46 mi)[1] | |
Surface area | 26.7 km2 (10.3 sq mi) | |
Average depth | 87 metres (284 ft) | |
Max. depth | 310 m (1,017 ft) | |
Water volume | 2.3073 cubic kilometres (81,482,000,000 cu ft) | |
Shore length1 | 59 km (37 mi)[2] | |
Surface elevation | 14 metres (46 ft) | |
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. |
Loch Morar (
Geography
Loch Morar is 18.8 kilometres (11.7 mi) long, has a surface area of 26.7 km2 (10.3 sq mi), and is the deepest freshwater body in the British Isles with a maximum depth of 310 m (1,017 ft).[3][4] In 1910, John Murray and Laurence Pullar found it to have a mean depth of 87 metres (284 ft) and a total volume of 2.3073 cubic kilometres (81,482,000,000 cu ft) during their survey of Scottish lochs.[1] The bottom is deepened below the United Kingdom Continental Shelf, and until 1943, when a depth of 324 metres (1,062 ft) was observed in the Inner Sound, it was believed to be the deepest water in the United Kingdom.[5][6] The surface of the loch is 9 metres (30 ft) above sea level.[7]
The water of the loch is clear and oligotrophic, with a minimal intake of nutrients, making it a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).[8][9] The main inflow is the River Meoble on the southern side, which drains from Loch Beoraid, although there are three other major inflows at the eastern end of the loch and a stream draining a complex of lochans to the north-west of Loch Morar.[8][10] The outflow is the River Morar at the western end, which at a few hundred metres long is one of the shortest rivers in the British Isles.[8][11] At the shallower western end of the loch, there are a number of sizeable forested islands.[10][12]
Swordland Lodge, on the northern shore of the loch, was used as training school
Habitation
At the western end of the loch is the village of Morar, which is between Arisaig and Mallaig on the coastal A830 road. The settlements of Bracorina and Bracara are located along the northern shore of the loch, but there is no road along the southern shore.[10] Tarbet, on the shore of Loch Nevis, is a short distance from Loch Morar.[10]
During the period of the Highland Clearances, many residents emigrated to Canada.[17] Boats left in 1790,[17] 1802,[18] and 1826,[19] carrying people to Quebec, Glengarry in Ontario, and the Strait of Canso in Nova Scotia respectively.
Geology
Loch Morar is located entirely within the Morar Group of sediments, which were deposited in the latter part of the Cambrian, and subsequently subjected to many phases of deformation.[20]
The loch occupies a basin produced by the
Based on estimates of erosion of between 2–4 mm (3⁄32–5⁄32 in) per year, the deep basin was created over a period of 67,000 – 150,000 years of
The catchment area of the loch is 168 square kilometres (65 sq mi), and the geology is base-poor.[8][26] A site to the north of the loch was selected in 2011 as a SSSI for its characteristic rock exposures of the Moine group by the Geological Conservation Review, replacing the area around Mallaig harbour, which had been previously regarded as the most representative site.[20][27]
Wildlife
The loch is surrounded by a mix of natural woodland, open hillside, sheep and cattle pasture and planted mixed coniferous and broadleaf woodlands.[28] Only around 0.7% of the surface of the loch can be colonised by plants.[8]
Fish
Loch Morar's fish population is believed to be limited to
The main
The catchment is managed by the Morar District Salmon Fishery Sub-board, which employs a full-time fisheries manager.[9] Poaching in the form of netting has been known to occur at the mouth of the River Morar.[9]
Monster
In common with
References
- ^ a b John, Murray; Lawrence, Pullar. Bathymetrical Survey of the Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland, 1897–1909 Lochs of the Morar Basin Volume II – Loch Osgaig. p. 197. Retrieved 25 June 2023. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b "Loch Morar". Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER). Retrieved 25 June 2023.
- ISBN 978-1-84158-241-2.
- ISBN 978-1-134-72804-6.
- .
- ISBN 978-1-107-63281-3.
- ISSN 0262-4079. Archived from the originalon 3 October 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g Walker, Andrew (1996). A Repeat Survey of Salmon and Trout Stocks in the Loch Morar System (PDF) (Report). Fisheries Research Service.
- ^ a b c d e f http://www.rafts.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lochaber-Fisheries-Management-Plan.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ a b c d Google (13 July 2014). "Loch Morar" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
- ^ "Morar, River". scottish-places.info. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
- ^ Loch Morar (Map). National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
- ISBN 978-1-55488-191-8.
- ^ David Harrison. "Special Operations". her.highland.gov.uk. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
- ^ "Morar Power Station". scottish-places.info. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
- ^ "Morar Dam, Hydro-electric Power Scheme". scotlandsplaces.gov.uk. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-88755-382-0.
- ISBN 978-0-7735-7354-3.
- ISBN 978-1-55002-770-9.
- ^ a b "Geology of Loch Morar" (PDF). lochmorar.org.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-86239-126-0.
- ISBN 978-1-86239-323-3.
- ISBN 978-0-7748-0510-0.
- S2CID 128585142.
- ^ "4. Mointeach Mhòr". Road to the Isles. Lochaber Geopark. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
- ISBN 978-94-009-8637-4.
- ^ "News from Mallaig Harbour April 2011". West Word. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
- ^ "Wildlife Around Loch Morar". lochmorar.org.uk. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
- ^ "Fish Populations". lochmorar.org.uk. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
- ^ "Fishing on Loch Morar". lochmorar.org.uk. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
- ^ Baum, Diane; Smith, Lucy (2010). Lochaber Eel Report 2010 (PDF) (Report). Lochaber Fisheries Trust.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Maclean, J. C.; Walker, A. F. (2002). The Status of Salmon and Sea Trout Stocks in the West Coast of Scotland (PDF) (Report). Freshwater Fisheries Laboratory.
- ISBN 978-0-85468-093-1.
- ^ "Cryptozoology". lochmorar.org.uk. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
External links
- Map of Loch Morar from soundings performed by John Murray and Laurence Pullar
- Murrary and Puller's description of the loch